Nice Spice

For most of my adult life I have always had on my spice shelf paprika. I've hardly used it but occasionally a recipe called for it and there it was. I remember as a girl my mom would have me sprinkle it on deviled eggs (wonder how that got named!) or on top of a pear or peach which lay on a bed of lettuce and was topped by a dab of mayo...oh, and cottage cheese was there somewhere. The red color made me think it would be spicy hot so I didn't want to eat it.
Thankfully we all grow up and for the most part stop avoiding such things and eat like adults not kids.

The past year or so I've noticed more and more recipes calling for smokie paprika. It interested me enough finally that I decided to purchase some. I checked out several brands and the above was the most frugally priced in my area.

I found myself excited to get home and open the bottle/jar and give it a sniff.

Wow, it's great. I love the smokiness. Now I have to find a recipe to use this stuff in.

If any of you have favorites that use smokey paprika feel free to pass them along. I trust you enough to make it.

Check These Out

Needing a little more discipline here!! I have way too many blogs I peek in on. Let me share. . . will I feel better if I get you hooked?

The first one I found a long time ago and have been fasinated with it. She is currently featuring recipes from the Depression and WWII-frugal and just plain cheap and tastey. I can't put them on Knight's In The Kitchen since the rule there is only adding recipes we have actually made. None the less I think you'll like The Hillbilly Housewife .

This next one I was lead to via Becky C.'s blog and find it SMART. She features healthy food that tastes good along with ingredient wisdom and kitchen equipment - Hey, Good Lookin' Whatcha Got Cookin'? I think I'll be making some chicken and barley soup real soon.

And today I'm drooling over the Provence Home at Cote De Texas. I love to get decorating ideas even if I might not be able to execute them. Drooling is putting it mildly; a french country home in Texas no less.

I enjoyed getting my hair cut at Lori's house this week by my stylist Heather. I got to see Lori's garden up close and personal after seeing her blog pics. She has every reason to be so happy over it and her sweet dad that put it all together for her! We started talking blogs and I told them I'd share the two cooking blogs above with them and then got to thinking I'd share them here with whoever came by my blog.

Speaking of my little blog, KMS asked me this week how many "hits" I get daily on my blog and I told her about 20. . . boy many of you are the strong SILENT type. It's okay to comment. Who are you in Denver that visit anyway? Well, enough on blogs. I have Skippie and Garry's little girl (dog) Abbie for 2 nights and a day while they take Oregon family on the Grand Canyon railroad excursion. This has been fun for Kirby and me but now it's time to go outside where the dogs will sniff the grass and I'll sniff the citrus blossoms. Wishing you all a happy day.

Sharing

Last night I got to share a little something I know...pie making. I was treated with 14 lovely ladies from church in my kitchen, show and tell, good smells and yummy pie. Now that's hard to top. I made three pumpkin pies before they arrived, our refreshments.

So sorry Rebecca that you aren't in the offical pie photo. Most of these lovelies are between 12 and 16. I hope they were a little inspired to tackle pie making on their own. Many have moms that are great cooks/bakers. Did you notice all those aprons....so cool girls! It was fun introducing them to grating nutmeats and using the apple peeler/corer/slicer-one of my favorite kitchen helps. Are you planning on making pies from scratch for Thanksgiving?

I'm in this photo, Leslie B. took it. Thanks Leslie. Her dear husband is Kirby's most excellent vet so a big piece of pumpkin pie went home to him in appreciation for those house calls.

This is what I was working on as I do what little clean up was left. Leslie was determined to do all clean up - what a worker. Much thanks.

This is the apple pie I made to demonstrate pie making. It finished baking after everyone was gone. I wonder who might drop by and eat pie with me. Anyone. Anyone.

Boy did the house smell good.

Summer Reads

This is not what you are expecting...but I do like to throw the old curve ball out once in awhile.

I will take the time to go through some of my old and new favorite cookbooks and try a new recipe or two, or three or whatever. That seems like a good thing to do in the summertime. But I have to tell you that a recipe or two I'll be trying didn't come from any of these books but from J&C's kitchen when I was visiting in PA (and eating tooooo much delicious food). Now, do I post those recipes or should C?

Boo Boo sent this to me, much thanks. I first checked it out from the library years ago and fell in love with the artwork, stories and recipes.

This was Mom's cookbook. I just go through and look for the stained and spattered pages and figure that was one of Mom's favorites. I'm comforted just holding and reading from her book.

Mom gave me this cherished book when I got married. Pages getting very stained from good use just like hers. Will my daughters or sons cherish it someday?

A new favorite chicken recipe. I should definitely use this book a lot, lot more!!

Sisters dear, what do you remember from our childhood cookbook?

This is where MT found that good raisin crisscross cookie recipe that we loved. Did the non-raisin son eat these?
This was a bridal shower gift a few years ago and where I found the family favorite Hot German potato salad recipe.

I take pleasure in preparing good food for my family. I wasn't always successful but most of the time did okay. I vividly remember A bringing a friend to our house and the boy saying his mom didn't really cook. Names withheld on purpose to protect the non-cooking mom. That made me sad for him and I never, never wanted my kids to say anything like that about me.

What are some of your favorite cookbooks?

Are the pages getting splattered?